Evade

By Auriah Jordan-Smith

will you

evade

the ageing 

and the agony

or will you look 

in the mirror 

                   someday 

and see me?

look at me, now

look

feel the wetness of my cheeks

and the bitterness of my sorrow

the furriness of my teeth

and the unwanted promise of tomorrow 

i see you in sunlight

your hair dancing

eyes open

there’s no rot in your bloodstream

there’s no rot in you

my bones are cracked and yellowing and

flesh is sloughing off and blood is boiling and brown

it makes me sick but, baby, that’s because i am

i hope you see me in muddy puddles after rain but not in the features of your face

By Auriah Jordan-Smith